Sing Away - Singing Holidays...​where you can sing all day if you want to!

About the Sing Away holidays

The singing holidays that I lead are always in lovely places either in the UK in Europe or Morocco. They are designed for people who want to go away somewhere special with a group of like minded others, to explore the joys of singing together. I have been several times now to Monte Rosa in the Algarve and love it dearly. The setting is a rural location with 10 acres of unspoiled land with old almond, olive and fig trees. it is 9km from the popular town of Lagos and walking distance from the traditional cobbled village of Barao de Sao Joao. The accommodation is renovated rustic cottages set within colourful gardens, with winding pathways, seating areas, a swimming pool and patio areas. The singing space is a round house renovated from an old mill set on a number of ley line at the end of the property.

In May 2018 we went to a new venue - Monte ne Luz - close to the beautiful and popular town of Loule. There is a similar octagonal building in which to sing, lovely rooms to sleep in, beautiful grounds and a large swimming pool. Please visit the site to see some photos and read more. We had a very special time here, and found that the place was steeped in love - in every aspect of its existence. Frank, who runs the place, pays so much attention to every detail of our care, we ate food cooked by Vincente and his girl friend which was exquisite and we wee able to relax and enjoy our songs, our laughter, our tears (occasionally) and our blossoming friendships. I had planned to return there in May 2019, but very sadly it has had to close down. Who knows, but maybe it will reopen again....

My most recent holiday was a trip to Italy in Sept 2018. We stayed in a Monastery near Pistoia which is in the heartland of Tuscany, away from the mass tourist market, but only 20 mins by train to Florence! We walked in the hills, visited Florence, Pistoia and Lucca and ate delicious Italian food. It was a wonderful week - again!

I lead my first holiday in Morocco in October 2017 at La Maison Anglaise which was a great success. It is such a treat being able to experience such an interesting culture, in the company of local people. My next project is to go to Tafraoute in the Anti Atlas Mountains in Spring of 2019. Keep your eyes open for this.

Singing everyday gives us the opportunity to look deeper into the simple notion of singing songs. It provides an opportunity to fully experience the harmonic detail of a song and how this touches us. It also provides an opportunity to look at the mechanics of how we use our voice, of how our voice reflects how we feel and how it influences the people we are with. We also discover more about how much confidence we have in allowing our own unique voice to be heard.

The way the holiday is planned is that we usually sing in the mornings until lunch time and then have the afternoons free to simply relax or to explore the locality. We sing again in the early evening and then eat and make merry throughout the evening.

I am very flexible in my daily planning and my choice of songs and this allows the group dynamics to mature and develop in a natural way. For a song to be sung at its best there must be a sense of trust between singers. It is this that I am focusing on.

Some of the ways that participants are encouraged to develop greater vocal confidence is through the use of sound and vibration, and through a variety of body work.

Eating together is an essential and important factor in the holidays. It is a time for sharing stories and reflecting on the day whilst we nurture our bodies. We eat both ‘in house’ and out in local restaurants, depending on the location.

Accommodation is always comfortable, usually in twin or triple rooms, depending on the location. The level of luxury is reflected in the overall price of the holiday.

Perhaps the most memorable part of my holidays are the friendships that are made and the laughter that infects everyone!

These days I am becoming more and more interested in the idea of using your voice as a way of expressing yourself, largely through play, but unfettered by the constraints of a song. We shall continue to learn and sing some lovely songs together but there will also be time to play around with some very simple ideas around improvisation.

In the meantime I am planning to find the occasional weekend away.....

SEE ALL SING AWAY! HOLIDAYS BELOW

Sing Away! Holidays​2018-19

This is a lovely opportunity to visit a part of Tuscany where fewer people visit. Pistoia is close to Pisa, Lucca and only 20 mins by train to Florence.

We shall be staying in a monastery which was previously a large private country house situated just outside the village of Casalguidi. This gives us easy access to the larger historical towns of Pisa, Lucca and Pistoia, to the surrounding hills, to the birthplace of Da Vinci and many other delights.

Our host Piero, will look after us wonderfully and provide us with delicious home cooked food and local wine each day. He also knows many of the local priests so will make plans for us to sing in the churches nearby if we wish.

It is well know that Italy is more expensive than Portugal but I have kept the price as low as I can as our host has been very generous. It will be a treat so do book up soon.

COSTS

£675 £625 early bird booked before March 1st 2018Single supplement £100, there are plenty of these available you may be pleased to know, it is a monastery after all!

Go on - treat yourself, we have such fun! The booking form is below.

AND......If you feel inclined and have the time you can negotiate with the owner to arrive early or stay on a bit longer....

Sing the Harmonies

​3 hours of relaxation, to unwind and experience how singing in harmony with others can enrich your life.

Feedback from the last event:'Another lovely few hours in good company and with lovely songs to learn and sing. I was amazed and thrilled by the bowls. Thanks for sharing your slowing down time, I needed it as have been very busy lately too.' M'Upper Sheringham village hall was a special place to be. Thank you Teresa for a wonderful few hours away in a world of song, sounds, good company and a sense of peace.' J

Feedback from happy customers

"Dear Lovely Moroccan Singing Teacher! Thanks for sharing your singing with us. Contrary to what I had expected I really enjoyed the experience of letting go of the written music, I shall get my paints out and get some Moroccan inspired colour sloshing around!" Carrie x

"I had such a wonderful holiday in Morocco. Teresa has a real knack of finding wonderful places to host her singing holidays. Her relaxed approach to the singing sessions makes for a very enjoyable experience with a variety of new and interesting material and opportunities for everyone to experiment with different parts. Booking onto one of Teresa's holidays is a great way to find your voice and Sing for Joy!" Emma 2018

"WOW! It’s definitely up there with one of the best holidays. The singing was delightful, be it in the dining room, on the roof top terrace by sunrise or in the hammam. I enjoyed Teresa’s song choices, challenging occasionally, which is exactly what I am after, tear inducing and spiritual at other times. A little something for everyone. I also enjoyed singing different voices, another challenge. Wonderful! As for the beautiful La Maison Anglaise and its stunning people, I highly recommend it. In no time at all it felt like you were part of a large family who wanted you to join in in their every day life. We visited the most interesting places, were part of family dining and tea rituals and enjoyed the exciting town of Taroudant and all it had to offer. To top it all, the food was amazing and coming away with some new recipe ideas. Simply spectacular!" Ulli 2018

"Huge thanks Teresa for organising this trip, it proved to be one of the very best ever. I've left a piece of my heart behind. I'm on the list behind Lyn for any further trips to this breathtaking country!" Jo 2018

"Thank you Teresa for your kindness and consideration to us all. The Moroccan culture is warm welcoming and safe.The accommodation was relaxing and spacious. The food plentiful and traditional. Our guide Youssef had a wealth of knowledge. He was an historian and pleased to answer all our questions. When is our next trip?" Lyn 2018

"Dear Teresa, Thank you so much for organising this magical holiday and for your great energy in leading it. The singing sessions brought us together and even those who approached a cappella singing with trepidation at first were in fine voice by the end. Singing on the roof after watching the sun rise over the Atlas Mountains was something special. The sound of a song rolling round the hammam was truly memorable - as was the bonding experience of the hammam itself! We were in a safe and healthy place with good food and kindly welcoming hosts. Glimpses of life in the souks, the Berber villages and exotic gardens made every day most enjoyable. It was just what I needed." Sally 2018

"I love the venue, the food, the Round House, the flowers the birds and the singing!! You can develop your skills in a supportive and beautiful setting" Linda 2017

"If you enjoy singing there can be nothing better than doing it in the Round House with it's great acoustics and looking out of the window at the beautiful Algarve Hills" Angela 2017

"It's a fantastic holiday with friendly people and lots of singing in lovely surroundings. I have enjoyed everything!" M x 2017

"I have to say that Monte Rosa was a fantastic venue for relaxing and enjoying the countryside of such a beautiful area. Even though the weather could have been better, the rain brought out all those beautiful flowers which we enjoyed when the sun finally came out. The most memorable thing about my time with you all was the friendship. There was not one person who did not embrace the feelings of togetherness. Obviously the singing was great and we made the most lovely sounds in the fantastic round building. I will most likely be booking for next year and have mentioned it to several friends." ​Pauline 2016

"For stylish chalets among meadows of wildflowers , to totally wonderful home cooked food , great company and inspirational singing with Teresa in the wonderful roundhouse, my second journey to Monte Rosa was fabulous. Singing morning and evening - free time for siesta or exploring local villages, short drives the to seaside or local markets. An experience I want to repeat. Next April will see us there again, thanks Teresa for a wonderful experience." L x 2016

"Thank you for an amazing week. I've made some lovely new friends and sung my heart out" Gill 2016

"'A Cappella (different spellings abound) is a singing teaching technique, to which the teacher adds their style, character and enthusiasm to create an enjoyable singing experience. We can all agree that Teresa has those attributes in spades. Listening to the recordings I made I hear loads of happy laughing people, that to me is what it is all about, singing for fun. That is why we had such a good enjoyable week. Let's hope we can have a repeat next year." ​Frank, Monte Rosa 2015

"What a fantastic week of singing in great company. When you come together with other people with a common interest magic happens!!" G

​"The holiday exceeded any expectations that I had before going. The group interaction was deep, meaningful and really friendly and given the small number of people our musical achievements were amazing! I loved Monte Rosa, especially the Round House, and the balance of free time was perfect. ​It was all such fun and I will definitely go again. B

FAQs

Sing Away! Holidays frequently asked questions:

Q: Is there a swimming pool? A: Yes, in Portugal and it is heated by the sun! In Morocco there is one at a local hotel.

Q: Can I bring a partner who doesn't sing?​A: Yes, they would be very happy flower and bird watching, and discovering local culture.

Q: Do you perform anywhere?A: No, unless it is a spontaneous thing whilst we are out somewhere.

Q: Do I need to be a strong singer?A: No, you will find that your voice develops and strengthens over the week.